81st
Annual Session
Calgary 1999
81st Annual Session of the Academy of Prosthodontics
A favorable exchange makes for favorable exchanges
The Academy of Prosthodontics made a return to Canada in May of 1999 to hold
its annual session in Calgary. This unannounced theme of this meeting was
"Maximized Cooperation." The weather cooperated by warming for our
meeting. The Palliser Hotel cooperated by providing a beautiful setting for this
meeting. The hotel staff cooperated with a level of efficiency that is unusual
in today’s day and age. The speakers cooperated by delivering on the excellent
presentation put together by Howard Landesman and his committee. Our guests
cooperated by coming in large numbers. Finally, the Canadian Government
cooperated by making those U.S. dollars go a very long way in this wonderful
city.
Social programs began with the Welcome dinner on Thursday evening, May 13.
The large turnout for this dinner was a harbinger of good things to come. During
the festivities, the meeting was dedicated to Dr. Howard Payne on his attendance
at this, his 50th consecutive Academy meeting. Howard’s friends and
colleagues celebrated and roasted him on this achievement.
The Scientific session was called to order by a particularly subdued program
chairman, Howard Landesman. After an invocation by Cliff Van Blarcom, President
George Zarb welcomed the meeting attendees. Life Fellows: Ron Desjardins, Alex
Koper, John Rhoads and George Smutko, Active Fellows: Larry Breeding, Donna
Dixon, Steve Eckert, Rhonda Jacob and H-P Weber, and Associate Fellows: Thuan
Dao and Kent Knoernschild were installed by Dr. Zarb. Brian Toolson presented a
memorial for Dr. Frank Smith who passed away in the summer of 1998. Andrew
Bennett then presented a stimulating discussion of leadership, mixing humor and
magic to illustrate his message. The Academy then welcomed the President-Elect
of the ADA, Dr. Richard Mascola, who discussed dentistry as an example of health
care that works. A multi-media presentation followed from Pascal Magne on the
topic of esthetic restorative dentistry. Making the trip from Madras, India,
E.G.R. Solomon then presented the esthetic consideration of the smile as it
relates to restorative dentistry. Following lunch, Ted Jacobson discussed the
demographic concerns for the prosthodontist and John Agar described positive
factors regarding the financial rewards of a prosthodontic practice.
Friday afternoon was open for some and full for others. Members gathered for
the first business meeting while spouses and companions visited the Glenbow
Museum and Prince’s Island Park. The evening allowed time for investigation of
the culturally diverse city of Calgary.
"Professor" Aaron Fenton began the Saturday session by introducing
Rhonda Jacob who provided background information on bias and its effect on
scientific studies. Those in attendance separated into small groups to discuss
two papers as illustrations of the effect of bias on scientific studies. Lively
discussions were found in all corners of the hotel after which the group
reconvened to describe the break out sessions. Saturday afternoon provided a
social outing in the majestically beautiful Banff area. Shopping, boating,
horseback riding and sightseeing preceded a delicious barbecue at the Boundary
Ranch in Kananaskis Valley.
Implant dentistry took center stage on Sunday when the first three speakers
discussed different aspects of this subject. Joseph Kan provided information on
implants in grafted sinuses while Steve Morgano related the effect of differing
designs on prosthetic performance in partially edentulous jaws. This was
followed by Winston Chee’s description of immediate loading of dental
implants. Talks then moved to the cellular level when two of our PhD’s, Lyndon
Cooper and Ichiro Nishimura, provided a glimpse of the future of prosthodontic
treatment.
Sunday afternoon was another time for exploration of Calgary. Once again, the
weather cooperated by providing a gorgeous afternoon. The evening allowed
another gathering at the annual Installation Banquet. A reception, dinner, music
and dancing was enjoyed by all.
The final day of the meeting began with Jacinthe Paquette providing
compelling material on the use of epoxy dies in fixed prosthodontics. Mark
Hochman described a new injection technique for the maxillary arch in which a
palatal approach to the anterior and middle superior alveolar is used. Sleep
bruxism was reviewed by Gilles Lavigne with different therapeutic interventions
described. David Guichet returned the discussion to implant supported
restorations when he described a photoelastic study of screw retained and
cemented restorations. The scientific session concluded with Richard Ellen
describing periodontal care for older adults in song, verse and slides.
The meeting adjourned in the early afternoon on Monday. All agreed that Brock
Love and his committee provided us with a wonderful visit to Calgary.
